To evaluate if fluorescein angiography is a useful tool to help us recognize skip areas of treatment not seen clinically during retinal photocoagulation in children

Methods

Observational,case series. We included 8 eyes of pediatric patients with different vascular pathologies that received laser photocoagulation as a treatment. Fluorescein angiography was performed trans-procedure using a wide angle device (130 grade lens), an intravenous bolus of 0.1ml/kg saline fluorescein 20% under general anesthesia. Skip areas were classified as: Circunferential (by clock hour meridians) and radial (ridge, ora serrata or isolated patches)

Results

We included six patients, clasified as follows: Coats disease (4 eyes), Incontinentia pigmenti (2 eyes) and Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (2 eyes). Mean age was 21 months (range 1 to 61 months). Multiple skip areas were observed after laser treatment when angiography was performed, even in clinically completely treated retina. Not treated pathological retina was mostly revealed on a circumferential pattern of three or more clock-hour meridians at equatorial and far peripheral retina

Conclusions

Fluorescein angiography performed transprocedure identifies skip areas not clinically visible. By using this technique the treatment can finalized laser treatment in a single session of photocoagulation, thus reducing number of interventions under anesthesia